Soil metabolites from Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica affect the types of microbes living in the soil. The researchers used gas chromatography and high-throughput sequencing to study these metabolites and microbial communities. They found that the plant releases various metabolites that impact the diversity and composition of the microbes in the soil. Factors like pH, moisture, and nutrients also play a role, but the metabolites have a stronger influence on the microbial community. This study shows how the plant's metabolites shape the soil ecosystem during vegetation regrowth in the Mu Us Desert.